Hiruzen Sarutobi, dressed in his Hokage robes and wearing a straw hat, stood on the podium in the Ninja Academy playground, a gentle smile on his face. He looked at the innocent faces below, his heart filled with emotion. These were the hopes of Konoha Village!
He then looked towards Class A, specifically for the two wearing ping-pong ball symbols on their clothes.
But after looking for a long time, he only saw one.
"This child, he's Uchiha Hara, right? Why isn't Uchiha Obito here? And why does Uchiha Hara look so weak?" Hiruzen Sarutobi was quite displeased.
He had long known about the practices of these Ninja clans; their most outstanding offspring were always trained within the clan, and those sent to the Ninja Academy were usually the dead last.
Even if they were the dead last, because they came from a Ninja clan, they could still grow to become Chunin, or even Special Jonin, so Hiruzen Sarutobi usually didn't pay attention to these things.
But this time, what the Uchiha clan did was a bit too much. Even if Uchiha Hara was the dead last, he was too far behind, and why did he look like he was on the verge of death?
And Uchiha Obito, was he late, or did he not want to come at all?
Hiruzen Sarutobi, as the esteemed Hokage, naturally wouldn't wait for a Ninja Academy student. He took a deep puff from his pipe, slowly exhaled the smoke, and his voice, gentle yet penetrating, clearly resounded across the entire playground.
"Dear beloved children, esteemed diligent teachers:
Good morning, everyone!
Today, the sun shines brightly, and Konoha is fragrant."
"Standing here, looking at your vibrant and hopeful young faces, I feel genuine joy and comfort. First, please allow me, Hiruzen Sarutobi, as the Third Hokage of Konoha Village, to represent the entire Village and extend our warmest congratulations to you all! Congratulations! From today onwards, you are officially members of the Konoha Ninja Academy!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi paused briefly, his gaze kindly sweeping across the crowd:
"Children, do you know? The moment you step through the gates of this school, a brand new chapter in your lives begins."
"This place will be where your dreams set sail, the cradle where you will grow into strong, excellent Ninja. The Kunai in your hands will one day protect the smiles of your loved ones; the Ninjutsu you learn will one day build the peace of the Village; the Will of Fire blossoming in your hearts will one day become the towering tree that supports this land!"
"I know that some of you come from distinguished families, growing up hearing tales of heroes; others may still be filled with confusion and curiosity about the Ninja world."
"But that doesn't matter. From today onwards, you stand on the same starting line."
"The Ninja Academy will teach you the most basic knowledge, the most fundamental Ninjutsu, and the most core principles."
"Here, what you need to learn is not just how to throw a shuriken, not just how to form hand signs and release Ninjutsu, but more importantly, how to become a true Konoha Ninja!"
"So, what is a Konoha Ninja?"
"Is it a strong person who can complete difficult missions? Is it a genius who masters countless secret techniques? These are all important, but they are not the whole picture."
"A true Konoha Ninja has the 'Will of Fire' burning in his heart!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi's gaze deepened, as if recalling something:
"Where the leaves dance, the fire burns eternally. The firelight will continue to illuminate the Village and make new leaves sprout."
"The sacrifices and dedication of the older generation, like a burning flame, illuminate the path ahead, transforming into nutrients that nourish you, the 'newborn' leaves, to grow strong. And you, one day, will also become that burning flame, to light the way for future generations, to protect this Village that carries countless hopes and dreams!"
"This is the legacy, this is the fundamental reason why our Konoha stands unyielding!"
"And to practice this Will of Fire, one person alone is not enough. A Ninja is never a lone wolf. What we value is 'teamwork,' is 'comrades'!"
"In your future studies, you will meet teammates who will fight alongside you. Perhaps your personalities differ, and your abilities vary, but please remember, you are a whole! What will you do when your companion is in danger? How will you cooperate when a mission encounters difficulties?"
"Trust your teammates, protect your teammates, and entrust your back to a trustworthy companion. This bond will become your strongest armor and sharpest weapon on your future path. I believe that under the guidance of your teachers and through your mutual adjustments, you will surely deeply understand the true meaning of 'team spirit'."
"Children, the road ahead will not be smooth. Training is arduous, missions may be full of danger, and you will encounter setbacks and even feel lost. But please do not be afraid, do not be discouraged. Remember your choice today, remember the expectations you bear, and remember that you still have your teachers and companions by your side."
"Study hard! Listen carefully to every lesson, master every piece of knowledge, and build a solid foundation.
Respect your teachers! They will impart their knowledge and experience to you without reservation.
Unite with your companions! Cherish every classmate around you; they are your most valuable asset in the future."
"I hope that in this school, you will not only learn the skills to make a living but also cultivate a strong, brave heart full of love and responsibility."
"Finally, I welcome you all once again! The future of Konoha belongs to you!
May the Will of Fire be with you!
Thank you all!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi's speech made the Ninja Academy students' blood surge with excitement. Even Uchiha Hara felt surprised; Hiruzen Sarutobi's speech was truly impressive!
This speech had a gentle, benevolent tone, carrying the earnest teachings and fervent hopes of an elder and leader, fitting the public image of the Third Hokage as the "Professor of Ninjutsu" and a "kind old man."
Moreover, it was closely tied to the theme, covering core content such as congratulating them on enrolment, encouraging study, respecting teachers, promoting the Will of Fire (a key point), and emphasizing team spirit, making it comprehensive.
In terms of language style, it adopted language suitable for speaking to children, relatively simple yet solemn, and utilized rhetorical devices such as metaphors (leaves and fire) and rhetorical questions (What is a Konoha Ninja?) to enhance its appeal.
For ordinary students, this speech might ignite a sense of honor and determination.
However, Uchiha Hara could clearly feel the underlying implications of "brainwashing" and "binding" within it.
If Hiruzen Sarutobi wrote this speech himself, he was quite impressive.
Thinking about it carefully, it was clear that Hiruzen Sarutobi, a Ninja from a clan without a Bloodline Limit, could master Five-Element Ninjutsu, become a Kage-level strong person, and firmly control Konoha Village for decades.
During this time, he not only suppressed various talented individuals, preventing them from rising, but even an outstanding hero like Orochimaru, who would be exceptional in any world, had to flee.
Of such a person, you could say he was evil, but you could never say he was incompetent.
Compared to Hiruzen Sarutobi, Senju Hashirama lacked ruthlessness, Senju Tobirama was too pedantic (he would actually cover for his disciples, while Hiruzen Sarutobi deeply understood the principle that a person of high status should not put himself in danger, and never went to the battlefield), Danzo lacked vision, Uchiha Fugaku lacked decisiveness, and Hatake Sakumo lacked resilience.
As for Minato Namikaze, he lacked the most crucial element of "selfishness" (he died with Uzumaki Kushina; whereas Hiruzen Sarutobi, after losing his beloved wife, transformed his personal grief into the power and motivation to control Konoha Village).
It was precisely this extraordinary thick skin and cunning mind that made him, despite not having top-tier strength, seem so "well-deserved" in the position of "Hokage."
When it came to political manoeuvring, he truly deserved the title of the strongest Hokage!
"It's only interesting to contend with such a character!"
And it's not just about fighting bravely, but also about fighting with wits.
To defeat an enemy in his strongest aspect, that is the best strategy for psychological warfare.
Although Uchiha Hara was thinking, his face showed no hint of a flaw. To have thunder in one's heart but a calm face is a skill possessed by every shut-in.
Even if he had a myriad of thoughts, not a single one would show on his face.
No, it was definitely not because showing them would make him look perverted.
Maintaining a respectful gaze, Uchiha Hara finally withdrew his eyes after Hiruzen Sarutobi left the Ninja Academy.
His Ninja Academy life was finally about to begin.